Storage battery and mounting and connection means therefor



J. L. RUPP Sept. 29, 1953 STORAGE BATTERY AND MOUNTING AND CONNECTION MEANSy THEREFOR Filed Nov. 12, 1949 ZIJSheets-Sheet l f/'Q 4 A T TUR/VE K5' J. L. RUPP Sept. 29, 1953 STORAGE BATTERY AND MOUNTING AND CONNECTION MEANS THEREFOR Filed Nov. l2, 1949 y 7.1 Lm ii. 7 n L a w n .a y Ww Patented Sept. 29, 1953 STORAGE BATTERY AND MOUNTING AND CONNECTION MEANS THEREFOR John L. Rupp, Williamsville, N. Y., assignor to National Battery Company, St. Paul, Minn.

Application November 12, 1949, Serial No. 126,901

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to storage batteries, and more particularly to storage batteries of the automotive vehicle type and to means for mounting such batteries in vehicles and the like. This application is a continuation in part of my copending patent application Serial No. 559,002, filed Oct. 17, 1944, which application matured into Letters Patent No. 2,487,831, dated November 15, 1949.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved type storage battery and improved type mounting means whereby such a battery may be detachably iixed in mounted position upon an automotive vehicle or the like in improved manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide in an automotive vehicle or the like improved means for mounting a storage battery therein.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved storage battery arrangement for automotive vehicles and the like.

Still another object of the invention is to provide improved means for effecting the ground connection between one of the storage battery terminals and the frame of the vehicle upon which the battery is mounted.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the specification hereinafter.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a top plan view of a storage battery embodying one form of mounting and ground connection means of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section taken along line II-II of'Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of another form of the battery of the invention, with portions broken away to show in section the battery mounting means thereof;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan View of the battery and mounting means of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the battery mounting means of Figs. 3-4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a detail of Fig. 3, showing the battery holding device in operative and inoperative positions;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary sectional view of another form of holding device of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation showing operation of a special tool for unlocking and lifting a battery from the mounting of the invention; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary top plan of the tool of Fig. 8.

In Figs. 1-2 of the drawings,`the invention isillustrated in conjunction with a storage battery comprising an outer case of cylindrical form designated I0 having an integral annularly shaped bottom portion l2 and a similarly shaped cover member I4. The casing structure also includes a central tubular wall I6 extending vertically therethrough. Thus, the casing structure is of annular form, and as indicated at l8-l9 may be intermediately partitioned by circular wall portions disposed concentrcally of the inner wall I6 so as to divide the interior of the battery case into three separate and concentric compartments which are designated 20-2I-22 respectively. It will of course be understood that the casing and partition elements may be arranged to provide any desired number of cells and may be molded of any suitable acid-resistant material such as hard rubber or glass or the like; and that the battery case and bottom and wall portions may be integrally formed from a suitable thermoplastic material by a simple molding process.

Thus, the battery case as illustrated provides in a single compact unit a group of concentric battery cells each of which are separate and annular in horizontal section, and are therefore adapted tc receive in helically coiled relation therein adjacently disposed positive plate and separator and negative plate elements so that each cell of the battery contains alternately disposed positive and negative plate elements with suitable separator devices therebetween.

The negative plate of the outer cell 26 is electrically connected to a terminal post 23, and suitable leads (not shown) from the positive plate of the outer cell 20 are electrically connected to a terminal 24 which in turn is electrically connected through a bus bar 25 to a terminal 26 which is arranged in electrical connection with the negative plate of the center cell 2|.- The positive plate of the center cell 2l is arranged in electrical connection with a terminal 21 which i in turn connect through a bus bar 28 to a terbattery case. Thus, the post 23 constitutes the negative terminal of the battery and the post 3U constitutes the positive terminal, but it will be appreciated that the polarities of the posts may 3 be reversed by reversing the connections referred tegrally with the base plate 54 by cutting the bas to, if preferred. plate as indicated at 51 to provide the member in It is a particular feature of the invention that the form of a tongue connected at one end therethis battery arrangement permits the grounded of to the base plate. Preferably the tongue memterminal to be provided in the form of a metal 5 ber 52 will be upwardly bent as indicated at 58 strap 3| which extends from the inner cell to the (Fig. 3) at a position spaced from the anchored nearbyV position of the central opening through end portion of the tongue, whereby a generally the battery case,fwhereby the f'-ground strap I--horizontallyidisposed'spring portion'f59 intermay be "ofshort length and yet will provide a 'connects' the' bottom plate`structure'54 and the suitable electrical connection with a metal post .l0 upright tongue portion 52. The parts are prefor draw bar as indicated at 35 which exten'ds ""erably formed of springy steel or the like, whereuprightly from base Structure :36i11`p'0n which the 'fiby iti-will `beappreciated that the tongue member battery is set when mounted irithevehieleto v52: isfth'ereby; adapted to be pulled upwardly be served. Thus, as shown in the drawing, the against the spring action of the portion 59, for strap 3l preferably terminatesin a flat eye por# 'lpurposes'to `be'explained hereinafter. tion 31 which overlies the central aperture Thestrap'me'mber 52 is fitted at its upper end through the battery case lcoverimemberwM, and @with aspring'hook device which as shown in Figs. a wing nut or the like as indicated at 40.maydbe 3-6.mayv comprise a strip of spring metal which provided to thread down upon the holding rod35 has been bent to provide oppositely paired leg .soas to simultaneously vlock the battery structure 20 portions 62-62 permanently fixed at their lower firmly'mountedrelationfupon thebase rn'emends-'to the upper-ends of the strap L52 as by 'ber "36 'and tof'eifect electrical connectionI 'be- -means of rivetsindicated 63. At their upper: ends "tweentheA terminalv strap L3| -and the r'od35. Y It the leg portions' 62--62 lead into reverse bent arm "willofcourse be understood that the rod'f'35 A'will 'portionsr- 64'-64 (Fig. 6) which terminategin La'lsbearranged at its lower end in `iirm electri- 25`downwardly directed ridgev portions S65-65 and cal connection with theframe structure of --the then lead into upwardly bent pressure padfpor- "'vehicle mounting the battery,Ur whereby a' firm --tions"E6-'S6 which unite in integral connection physical support "of theA battery is obtained in at the apex portion68 of the device.` Preferably,

V'combination with an efiicient electrical ground the portions 66-66 are deformed asindicated at 'connection tothe frame of the vehicle is ob- 30 "69. to facilitate Yfinger gripping: thereof. Thus, tained. it wil1'beiappreclated that the spring hook mem- Figs. 3-6i11ustrate another form of battery and -ber may be readily'formed from a single strip of battery mount arrangement of the invention, spring metal by `bending it into the l sectional `wherein'the battery is illustrated to be generally form thereof shown in Fig. 6.and then riveting iin the' well known rectangular casefform. As 35 the paired lower ends thereof tothe tension strap shown herein, the battery comprises acase 42 'i552 as indicated at63. "having therein three-separate-cells as shown by Asillustrated` in Fig; 3, the cell vpartition wall their correspondingV cover plate? elements l'43- structure of-the 'batterycase is vertically aper- LI4-'45. Thus, the drawingrdepicts a three-cell Htured as Aindicated at.10 so as to register with the "type'storage batterysuch asis customarily used 40 tension'strap and spring hookdevicc whenever the *"forstarting andv lighting-service inpresent Yday battery is lowered into resting 4p'o'sitlonfuponlthe automobiles and the like; but it will of course -base 'plate-'54;- and thevertical'aperture 'mand "beunderstood that the'inventionv-maybe apthespring hook'device '60 are so constructed and rpqfgdwithqualmfacility to storage battery^de z-arranged'that the aperturel is`of lesser Awidth N"vice'sbfanynumber of'cells.' In'the drawingeach 45fthan1the-width between the bottom ledge p0r- "c'elli's illustrated to be 'provided with a-vfillercap tions 65-65 of the spring 'hook device when the "lrand 4an'upstanding negativeconnectionl-ter- *latterfisfin `itsnormal open position,y asfillusnialpost '48' is illustrated as extendingfabove "'r'tra'ted by--the solid line showing thereof in Fig. 6. "'oneof the'endcells of the battery 'for detachable However, as shown in the figures, the spring hook "connectionwith'theusualexible cable as is cus- 50-Lfd'evice islso 'constructed and arrangedthat the "tomaryin automotive battery practice.v` Similarresiliency 'of v.the vvarious, portions thereof operly, thevpositivefterminalvdevice of the batteryis ate normally tofcause'the hook device to assume illustrated'to exend' through the cover structure -theffopenry condition thereof shown in the drawas'indicatedat 5e Fig-. 4) '-and-mayfof coursebe eine; but upon 'epblicatonof squeezing pressures *formed thereat Wuhan-opstanding terminal post f55 against the side pad portions 66-66 the hookde- "'*structure to`A receive 'the customary ground `v@Vicemay becompressedagainst the elastic forces -eable as is-c`onventional inautomotiveA battery ofthe-material "thereof, such as to'the rbroken practice. However, inl accord withthe present line position"thereof shown in Fig. 6 whereupon 'ie-invention arnovel'formof ground connection the hook device is contracted to such width dif maybe eifectedin conjunction'with thebatterylirnensi'onas'f to enable it to slip-fit -through the `A#hold-'down mechanism, as will be explainedh'ereaperturef'lin the battery case partition member. matten Th'us,-it will belappreciated that the battery of `l 'Ifhe battery hold-down arrangement of--the-inthe invention may bemounted upon the 1 device `fventlon is illustrated in Figs;-3-6 to-comprisean *shown in the "drawing vby simply iii-st inserting opstanding rod-orfstrap-SZ which is either -formed `t5 4thefap'ex-A portiony ofi the hook device Sil' into the .eintegrally with or firmly connected at its-bottom lower end of /the'apertur'e 10, `and then lowering r:Lend to thewba-se plate structure54hupon`l which -ithebattery vintoresting position upon thebase the.` .batteryxrests .when fin .Y mounted position. plate154,.1 At thisstage the upper end ofthe hook .Preiera'bly,l the base-plate 54 will be provided in y .fdevice t'wlllprotrude above thetopcover of the lfthexformrof agenerallyilat metalplate member-70 battery vandl Imay ithereupon be grasped .between having upturned rims 56 at the-edges .thereof-for 'fthe'.ngers of the 'operator and pulled 'upwardly 'automatically centeringthe' battery in position upon so as to draw the tension strap 52 upwardly ...upon the baseifplate 'and =retaining it :thereon zsagainstthei spring force rof the .spring portion ap-against sidewisedisplacement.` As showninzFigs. 59 at the bottom end of the strap, until .the bot- 3fand 5; the straprmemberi52 may beformedin-i-"uatomrfledge lportions 65-55 of the spring hook ture or the battery in the region of the aperture '10. The spring forces within the hook device 6U will thereupon operate to cause the latter to eX- pand as to the solid line condition thereof shown in Fig. 6, whereupon the bottom ledge portions 65-65 oi the hooi: device will rmly engage upon the top cover structure of the 'battery so as to apply a constant pull-down force against the battery for maintaining it rmly in mounted position upon the base plate 54.

As in the case of the battery terminal arrangement of Figs. 1 2, the mounting mechanism of the arrangement of Figs. 3-6 provides also for a novel and improved. ground connection arrangement because a conductor strap i5 (Fig. et) may be conveniently arranged to extend as from the terminal 5G over into the region of the .battery case mounting aperture and to terminate thereat in an eye portion 'i6 formed to encircle the upper end of the aperture it! through the battery case partition wall and to receive the bottom ledge portions -b of the spring hook device (Fig. 6) in iirmly gripped relation when the battery is mounted as explained. hereinabove. Thus, an efficient ground connection is provided through the strap member l5 and the hook device @9 into the tension member 52 which is formed integrally with the bottom plate 5ft, whereby it will be appreciated that a convenient and otherwise improved method for grounding the mounted battery is provided in combination with improved physical support of the battery when in mounted condition.

Fig. 'l illustrates fragmentarily a modied form of the spring hook device of the invention, and in this case the tension strap member 52 which corresponds to the similarly designated member of Figs. 3-6 connects at its upper end as `by means of rivets 89 or the like to a pair of leaf spring members 82-32 which extend upwardly therefrom in diverging relation and lead into reversely bent pad portions iid-8d which terminate in bottom ledges SE-SE. rEhe spring parts are so constructed and arranged that when they are in normal extended position as illustrated by the solid line showing in Fig. 7 they reach outwardly so as to engage the ledge portions 85 thereof in iirmly anchored relation upon the terminal strap 'z5 referred to hereinabove, so as to provide at once the rm battery mounting effect and the efficient electrical ground effect as explained hereinabove. To permit the battery to be removed from mounted position, the pad portions BIZ-34 are simply squeezed upon so as to force the spring hook device to assume a width dimension permitting it to slip-fit through the aperture 'Hl of the battery case. Also, as explained in connection with the arrangement of Figs. 3-6, in order to mount the battery upon the hook device of Fig. 7, the spring pad portions 84-84 are simply squeezed together so as to enable the upper ends of the spring elements to slip-nt into the lower end of the aperture through the battery case, whereupon the battery may be lowered into mounted relation upon the base plate, and whereupon the hook device will protrude above the top cover of the battery case and may then be pulled upon so as to displace the strap 52 upwardly against the spring action thereof as explained hereinabove, whereupon the hook device will clear the top cover structure of the battery and will expand into battery locking position.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate another method and vmeans for releasing the mounting hook device of Figs. 3-6v incidental to lifting of the battery from mounted position; there being provided a battery carrying handle 9D formed of substantially rigid metal or the like and having linked to its opposite ends a pair of battery terminal post engaging rings 92, as by means of link devices S3. The rings 92-92 are centrally apertured so as to freely slip-iit down upon the battery terminal posts 48-50 whenever the rings are disposed in horizontal attitude, but whenever they are pulled upwardly at one edge thereof so as to become cocked relative to the terminal posts they will thereby grip the posts so as to prevent sliding therefrom, whereby the handle device may be employed to lift the battery out of mounted position.

As shown in Figs. 8 9, the handle member 99 is formed to include a suitable cam device which may be provided in the form of an open ended box 95 fixed to a spring finger portion 96 of the handle member 99, as indicated at 91. Thus, the linger portion B5 may be pressed upon as illus-- trated in Fig. S incidental to lifting upwardlyy against the handle portion 90 for battery lifting: purposes, whereby the cam box 95 will be thereby thrust downwardly to enclose the spring hook device 6i] and to cam the opposite sides thereof toward each other so as to release the hook device irom engagement against the top surface of the battery case. Thus, by means of this simple tool as illustrated in Figs. 8 9, the operator may by use of only one hand simultaneously release the hooi; @il and lift upwardly against the battery so as to remove it from mounted position. l The battery mounting arrangement of the invention greatly facilitates the job of mounting and changing batteries in automotive vehicles, aircraft and the like,k and greatly reduces the time required to change batteries in installations where such time savings are important. The interiorly disposed battery hold-down device centers the holding down forces near the position of the center of gravity of the battery, and in this respect it will be appreciated that Whereas the drawing at Figs. 3-5 and 8 illustrate provision of only one hold-down device inside of one of the intermediate partitions of a three-cell battery, any desired number of hold-down devices of the invention may be employed in one or more of the partition portions of a battery. The preferred number and location of the hold-down devices will depend upon the plan view shape and dimensions of the battery to be mounted. In any case the relatively narrow aperture or apertures provided through the relatively rugged partition elements of the battery case enable the hold-down devices of the invention to provide firm support of the battery without danger of breakage of the battery case structure; and as explained hereinabove the novel battery hold-down and ground connection mechanism operates automatically to provide krm batteryr support and efiicient grounding of the battery without special attention by the operator to the grounding connection.

It will of course be appreciated that although only a few forms of the invention have been shown and described in detail herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited but that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit oi the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. ln combination, a storage battery of circular wall form comprising a case including a top cover and a tubular Wall portion extending vertically throughout thef center of-said battery case and thereby defining` a` clear aperture -therethroughout. a battery terminal conductor extending from one ofthe terminals of said-'battery into position adjacent thetop end of the aperture through said battery case, andv a, battery mounting structure comprising a platform adaptedv to.' receiveA said battery in resting positionthereon, said platform having extending therefrom a rod device adapted to slip-nt through said aperture When-the battery is lowered' into mounting position, said-rod device provided at its outer end withmeans adapted tofdetachably connect' the latter to said cover while bearing against said terminal conductor to hold said battery in firmly mounted position upon said platform,` said detachableconnection means and said rod device and said platform comprising electrically conductive material for providing grounded connection ofv said battery through said: terminal conductor to structure electrically connected to said platform.

2. In combination, a storage battery comprising aunitary case, said case havingan interior wall portionA apertured vertically throughout the extent of said battery case, a battery terminal-conductor extending from one of the terminals of said battery intoposition adjacent the top end ofthe aperture through said battery case, and a battery mounting structure comprising a battery installation platform adapted to receive said battery in resting position thereon, elongate projecting hold-down means extending from said platform adapted toslipt through said aperture when'the batteryI is lowered into mounting positionl and'connection means provided at the outerend of said hold-down means adapted to extendA over said'terxninalr conductor and to detachably'connect saidhold-down means to the cover of said battery and to bear thereagainst with said terminal conductor therebetween to hold said battery in firmly mounted position upon said platform and to electrically contact said terminal conductor, said connection means and said hold-downmeans comprising electrically conductive material for providing grounded connection of said battery through said terminal to the structure electrically connected to said platform.

3. In combination in a vehicle, a Storage battery comprising a' casing having interior wall means therewithin defining a battery cell partitioning element, said wall means having an aperture extending vertically therethroughout from top to bottom of.' the casing, aterminal strap device extending in electrical connection from one terminal of said storage battery and having contact means at said aperture, and a battery mounting device comprising a` battery installation platform fixed upon said vehicle and upon which said battery is adapted to rest, a hold-down tension device extending from said platform and adapted to' slip-fit through said aperture' and to extend beyond-the'cover structure-of said battery when the latter is in mounted position, said tension device including means at the outer end thereof for detachablyengaging-the battery cover structure-and4 adapted to press against said` battery so as to hold it' nrmly against the platform with said-tension device bearing in electrical connection against sai'd'f contact means, said tension member and said platform being constructed of electrically conductive material and grounded to theV vehicle frame, whereby said tension device simultaneously securesisaid` battery to said platform andl completes electrical ground from said terminal to said vehicle frame.

4. In combination, a storage battery comprising a case including a top cover and a tubular wall portion extending vertically throughout of said batterycase interiorly thereof and thereby defining a-clear aperture therethroughout. a battery terminal conductor extending from onevof the terminals of said battery into position adjacent the top end. of the aperture through said battery case, and a battery mounting structure comprising a platform adapted to receive said battery in resting position thereon, said platform having extending therefrom an elongate projecting holddown device adapted to slip-nt through said aperture when the battery is lowered into mounting positionpsaid hold-down device being provided at its outer end with means adapted to detachably connect the latter to said cover while bearing against said terminal conductor to hold said battery in firmly mounted position upon said platform, said detachable connection means and said hold-down device and said platform comprising electrically conductive material for providing grounded connection of said battery through said terminal conductor to structure electrically connected to said platform.

5. In combination a storage battery comprising a unitary case, said case including a tubular wall portion extending vertically completely through the case inwardly of the side walls thereof and defining a clear opening extending through the case from top to bottom thereof, and a battery mounting structure comprising a platform adapted to receive said battery with the bottom wall of the case resting thereon, said platform having extending upwardly therefrom an elongated substantially rigid member adapted to slip-fit through said opening when the battery is lowered into mounting position on the platform, and means on theouter end of said elongated member adapted for detachably engaging the top of the case to hold said battery inv firmly mounted position upon said platform.

6. A storage battery and mounting structure therefor as set forth in claim 5 and in which the platform is constructed of sheet metal and the elongated fastening member is formed by a portion of the platform cut to provide a tongue bent at an angle tothe general plane of said platform, said tongue having a, portion thereof adiacent the region of its connection with said platform arranged to provide a spring action whereby said tongue may be pulled upon to be displaced against the spring forces thereof, said tongue device terminating in a hook portion so constructed and arranged as to overlie the top cover structure of the battery when mounted upon said platform.

7. A storage battery and mounting structure therefor as set forth in claim 5 and in which the platform comprises a sheet metal structure having a rim formation peripherally thereof and the elongated fastening member is formed by a portion of the platform cut to provide a tongue bem? at an angle to the general plane of said platform, said tongue device' terminating, in a hook portion so constructed and arranged as to overlie the top cover structure of the battery when mounted upon said platform.

8. A storage battery and mounting structure therefor as set forth in claim 5 and in which the platform comprises a metal structure. and the elongated fastening member is formed by a metal tongue having an end thereof structurally 9 and electrically connected to said platform, said Number tongue device terminating in a hook portion so 1,618,112 constructed and arranged as to be hooked to 1,952,150 overlie the top cover structure of the battery 1,982,801 When mounted upon said platform. 5 1,999,945 JOHN L. RUPP. 2,187,494 2,253,417 References Cited in the file of this patent 2,254,991

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 10 1,298,857 Angell Apr. 1, 1919 1,382,980 Hunt June 28. 1921 Number 1,506,837 Johnson Sept. 2, 1924 293,945

Name Date Setzer Feb. 15, 1927 Trimble et al Mar. 27, 1934 Gerking Dec. 4, 1934 Rathburn Apr. 30, 1935 Gray Jan. 16, 1940 Clark Aug. 19, 1941 Breeden Sept. 2, 1941 Appel Sept. 13, 1949 Deo Apr. 10, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain July 19, 1928 

